(±)-Talapyrones A-F (1-6), six pairs of dimeric polyketide enantiomers featuring unusual 6/6/6 and 6/6/6/5 ring systems, were isolated from the fungus Talaromyces adpressus. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis and HR-ESI-MS data, and their absolute configurations were elucidated using a modified Mosher's method and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. (±)-Talapyrones A-F (1-6) possess a 6/6/6 tricyclic skeleton, presumably formed through a Michael addition reaction between one molecule of α-pyrone derivative and one molecule of C₈ poly-β-keto chain. In addition, compounds 2/3 and 4/5 are two pairs of C-18 epimers, respectively. Putative biosynthetic pathways of 1-6 were discussed.
Polyketides/isolation & purification* ; Talaromyces/chemistry* ; Stereoisomerism ; Molecular Structure ; Circular Dichroism ; Pyrones/chemistry*

OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanisms by which Pinggan Yishen Decoction(PGYSD)contributes to alleviating target organ damage in spontaneously hypertensive rats.METHODS The chemical components of PGYSD were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF/MS)and were analyzed by target a-nalysis and functional enrichment combined with network pharmacology methods to predict the potential mechanism of PGYSD in trea-ting hypertension and its target organ damage.Spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomly divided into the model group,low-dose PGYSD group(2 g·kg-1),high-dose PGYSD group(5 g·kg-1),and valsartan group(7.2 mg·kg-1),with 6 rats in each group.Wistar-Kyoto rats were used as the control group,and the control group and the model group were gavaged with normal saline for 8 consecutive weeks.HE and Masson staining were used to observe the pathological damage and fibrosis degree of rat heart and tho-racic aorta.Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot were used to detect the expression level of EGFR in the heart,liver and kidney of rats.Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the co-localization of EGFR and EEA1 in the heart,liver and kidney of rats.RESULTS Twenty-six components of PGYSD were detected by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS.Network pharmacology revealed that EG-FR,PIK3R1 and EP300 may be key therapeutic targets of action of PGYSD for the treatment of hypertension and its target organ dam-age,and that the treatment of hypertension and its target organ damage by PGYSD may be closely related to EGFR tyrosine kinase in-hibitor resistance,lipids and atherosclerosis and HIF-1 signaling pathway.The high-dose group of PGYSD significantly reduced sys-tolic blood pressure and mean blood pressure in rats(P<0.05,P<0.01),attenuated pathological damage and fibrosis in the heart and thoracic aorta(P<0.01,P<0.001),significantly reduced the expression level of EGFR in the liver and kidney of rats(P<0.01),and treated fibrosis in liver and kidney,reduced the co-localization of EGFR and EEA1 in the kidney of rats(P<0.001),attenuated fibro-sis in kidney.CONCLUSION The paper integrates UPLC-Q-TOF/MS,network pharmacology and spontaneously hypertensive rat model and preliminarily explores the effect mechanism of PGYSD in the treatment of hypertension and its target organ damage,provi-ding a scientific basis for further mechanism research and clinical application of PGYSD in the treatment of hypertension.

BACKGROUND: The presence of fibrosis is a criterion for subtype classification in the newly updated hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) guidelines. The present study aimed to summarize differences in clinical characteristics and prognosis of non-fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (NFHP) and fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (FHP) and explore factors associated with the presence of fibrosis. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, patients diagnosed with HP through a multidisciplinary discussion were enrolled. Collected data included demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and radiologic and histopathological features. Logistic regression analyses were performed to explore factors related to the presence of fibrosis. RESULTS: A total of 202 patients with HP were enrolled, including 87 (43.1%) NFHP patients and 115 (56.9%) FHP patients. Patients with FHP were older and more frequently presented with dyspnea, crackles, and digital clubbing than patients with NFHP. Serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 125, carbohydrate antigen 153, gastrin-releasing peptide precursor, squamous cell carcinoma antigen, and antigen cytokeratin 21-1, and count of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) eosinophils were higher in the FHP group than in the NFHP group. BAL lymphocytosis was present in both groups, but less pronounced in the FHP group. Multivariable regression analyses revealed that older age, <20% of lymphocyte in BAL, and ≥1.75% of eosinophil in BAL were risk factors for the development of FHP. Twelve patients developed adverse outcomes, with a median survival time of 12.5 months, all of whom had FHP. CONCLUSIONS Older age, <20% of lymphocyte in BAL, and ≥1.75% of eosinophil in BAL were risk factors associated with the development of FHP. Prognosis of patients with NFHP was better than that of patients with FHP. These results may provide insights into the mechanisms of fibrosis in HP.
Humans ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Prospective Studies ; Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic/diagnosis* ; Fibrosis ; Carbohydrates

AIM: To explore the possible mechanism of propofol in alleviating pruritus induced by subcutaneous injection of chloroquine in rats. METHODS: The pruritus model of chloroquine in SD rats was established and the administration time was determined. 18 rats with successful pruritus model induced by subcutaneous injection of chloroquine were randomly divided into NS group, I group and P group. Normal saline 80 μL/kg, fat emulsion 80 μL/kg and propofol 0.8 mg/kg were injected through internal jugular vein catheter 5 minutes after subcutaneous injection of chloroquine. Another 6 rats were randomly selected as group C, and the same volume of normal saline as the other 3 groups was injected subcutaneously in the back of the neck and through the internal jugular vein catheter. The rats were killed 16 minutes after the corresponding drugs were injected into the internal jugular vein. The expressions of TRPV1 and CB1 receptors in the spinal cord were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with NS group and I group, the expression level of TRPV1 receptor in the spinal cord of P group rats was significantly increased (P<0.01), while there was no statistically significant difference between C group, NS group, and I group; The expression level of CB1 receptor was significantly higher than that of group C, NS, and I (P<0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference between group C, NS, and I. CONCLUSION: Propofol can significantly alleviate pruritus caused by subcutaneous injection of chloroquine in rats, which may exert an antipruritic effect by increasing the expression of TRPV1 and CB1 receptors in the spinal cord of rats.

Objective:To investigate the changes of brain energy metabolism and cognitive function in mice with specifically knocking out AMP-activated protein kinase α1 subunit ( AMPKα1) gene in the excitatory neurons by Cre-loxP recombination system. Methods:Sixteen 6-month-old mice with genotype AMPKα1 flox/flox/Camk2a-Cre/ERT2 obtained by hybrid breeding were randomly divided into AMPKα1 knockout group ( n=8) and AMPKα1 wild-type group ( n=8). Mice in the AMPKα1 knockout group were intraperitoneally injected 0.1 mL tamoxifen (20 mg/mL, dissolved in corn oil) daily for a consecutive 5 d to control AMPKα1 gene knockout in the excitatory neurons; and mice in the AMPKα1 wild-type group were intraperitoneally injected 0.1 mL corn oil daily for a consecutive 5 d. Seven d after that, Morris water maze and T maze experiments were employed to detect the spatial learning and memory abilities and spatial working memory of these mice; chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging (CEST) was used to observe the glucose metabolism in the hippocampus and cortex surrounding the hippocampus; Western blotting was used to detect the AMPKα1 and glutamate receptor 1 (GluR1) protein expressions in the hippocampus and cortex surrounding hippocampus of two groups. Results:(1) Morris water maze showed that, as compared with those in the AMPKα1 wild-type group, mice in the AMPKα1 knockout group had significantly prolonged escape latency ([13.90±3.72] s vs. [22.40±6.28] s; [11.95±3.86] s vs. [22.39±9.77] s]) on the 3 rd and 4 th d of experiment, statistically decreased times crossing the platform ([5.25±1.83] times vs. [1.75±1.28] times, P<0.05). (2) T-maze experiment showed that as compared with that of the AMPKα1 wild-type group, the free alternation rate in mice of the AMPKα1 knockout group was significantly decreased ([73.21±9.16]% vs. [48.21±11.29]%, P<0.05). (3) CEST showed that the glucose metabolism levels in the hippocampus and cortex surrounding the hippocampus of AMPKα1 knockout group were significantly lower than those in AMPKα1 wild-type group (1.51±0.81 vs. 2.77±0.67; 1.31±0.83 vs. 2.42±0.95, P<0.05). (4) Western blotting showed that the AMPKα1 and GluR1 protein expressions in the hippocampus and cortex surrounding the hippocampus of the AMPKα1 wild-type group were significantly higher than those of the AMPKα1 knockout group (AMPKα1: 0.70±0.05 vs. 0.49±0.03, 0.98±0.04 vs. 0.64±0.06; GluR1: 1.22±0.18 vs. 0.60±0.11, 0.96±0.08 vs. 0.79±0.04, P<0.05). Conclusion:Specifically knocking out AMPKα1 in excitatory neurons can result in abnormal glucose metabolism in the brain of mice, and thus cause cognitive dysfunction, whose mechanism may be related to excitatory synaptic disorder caused by energy metabolism disorder.

Objective: To understand the health literacy and relevant factors of cancer prevention consciousness in Chinese urban residents from 2015 to 2017. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 16 provinces covered by the Cancer Screening Program in Urban China from 2015 to 2017. A total of 32 257 local residents aged ≥18 years old who could understand the investigation procedure were included in the study by using the cluster sampling method and convenient sampling method. All local residents were categorized into four groups, which contained 15 524 community residents, 8 016 cancer risk assessment/screening population, 2 289 cancer patients and 6 428 occupational population, respectively. The self-designed questionnaire was used to collect the information of demographic characteristics and cancer prevention consciousness focusing on nine common risk factors, including smoking, alcohol, fiber food, food in hot temperature or pickled food, chewing betel nut, helicobacter pylori, moldy food, hepatitis B infection, estrogen, and exercise. The logistic regression model was adopted to identify the influencing factors. Results: The overall health literacy of the cancer prevention consciousness was 77.4% (24 980 participants), with 77.4% (12 018 participants), 79.9% (6 406 participants), 77.2% (1 766 participants) and 74.5% (4 709 participants) in each group (P<0.001). The correct response rates for nine risk factors ranged from 55.2% to 93.0%. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with community residents, people with primary school level education or below, and the number of people living together in the family <3, the cancer risk assessment/screening intervention population, cancer patients, those with junior high school level educationor above and the number of people living in the family ≥3 had better health literacy of the cancer prevention consciousness (all P values <0.05). Compared with females, 39 years old and below, government-affiliated institutions or civil servants, from the eastern region, males, older than 40 years, company or enterprise employees, and from the middle or western region had worse health literacy of the cancer prevention consciousness (all P values <0.05). Conclusion The health literacy of the cancer prevention consciousness in Chinese urban residents should be improved. The cancer screening intervention, gender, age, education, occupation, the number of people co-living in the family, and residential region were associated with the health literacy of the cancer prevention consciousness.

Objective: To understand the consciousness of the cancer early detection among urban residents and identify the influencing factors from 2015 to 2017. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 16 provinces covered by the Cancer Screening Program in Urban China from 2015 to 2017. A total of 32 257 local residents aged ≥18 years old who could understand the investigation procedure were included in the study by using the cluster sampling method and convenient sampling method. All local residents were categorized into four groups, which contained 15 524 community residents, 8 016 cancer risk assessment/screening population, 2 289 cancer patients and 6 428 occupational population, respectively. Self-designed questionnaires were used to collect population, socioeconomic indicators, self-cancer risk assessment, regular participation in physical examination and other information. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the factors of people who had not regularly participated in the regular physical examination in the past five years. Results: The self-assessment results of 32 357 residents showed that there were 27.54% (8 882) of total study population with self-reported cancer risk, 45.48% (14 671) without cancer risk and 26.98% (8 704) with unclear judgement on their own cancer risk. Among population with cancer risk, 79.84% (7 091) considered physical examination accounted. In the past five years, there were 21 105 (65.43%) residents participated in regular physical examination and 11 148 (34.56%) participated in non-scheduled one, respectively. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with unmarried and western region residents, divorced, middle and eastern region residents had a stronger consciousness to participate in the regular physical examination (P<0.05). Compare with residents with annual household income less than 20 000 CNY in 2014, cancer risk assessment/screening intervention population, and self-assessment with cancer risk, residents with annual household income between 20 000 CNY and 59 000 CNY in 2014, occupational population, community residents, cancer patients, self-reported cancer-free risk, and self-assessment with unclear judgement of cancer risk were less likely to participate in the regular physical examination (all P values <0.05). Conclusion From 2015 to 2017, the Chinese urban residents had a acceptable consciousness of the cancer early detection. The marital status, annual household income, population group and self-assessment of cancer risk were related to the consciousness of the cancer early detection of people who had not participated in the regular physical examination in the past five years.

Objective: To understand the consciousness of the cancer early diagnosis among urban residents and identify the related factors from 2015 to 2017. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 16 provinces covered by the Cancer Screening Program in Urban China from 2015 to 2017. A total of 32 257 local residents aged ≥18 years old who could understand the investigation procedure were included in the study by using the cluster sampling method and convenient sampling method. All local residents were categorized into four groups, which contained 15 524 community residents, 8 016 cancer risk assessment/screening population, 2 289 cancer patients and 6 428 occupational population, respectively. The general demographic characteristics, the consciousness of the cancer early diagnosis (whether people would have a willingness or encourage their relatives/friends to confirm the abnormal results once which were detected from the physical examination) and other information were collected by using the self-designed questionnaire. The non-conditional logistic regression model was used to identify the relateol factors related to the consciousness of the cancer early diagnosis. Results: As for residents with abnormal result from the physical examination, 89.29% (28 802) of residents would choose to seek medical treatment for further diagnosis. If their relatives/friends had abnormal results from the physical examination, 89.55% (28 886) of residents would encourage their relatives/friends to confirm the diagnosis in time. The non-conditional logistic regression model analysis showed that compared with the public institution staff/civil servants, annual household income less than 20 000 CNY, the western region and the cancer risk assessment/screening intervention population, the company staff, annual household income about 40 000 CNY and more, and the residents from the middle and eastern region had a stronger consciousness to seek further diagnosis; while the unemployed residents and community residents were less likely to seek further diagnosis (P<0.05). Conclusions From 2015 to 2017, the Chinese urban residents had a good consciousness of the cancer early diagnosis. Occupation, annual household income, residential region and population group were related to the consciousness of the cancer early diagnosis.

Objective: To understand the consciousness of the cancer early treatment and its demographic and socioeconomic factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 16 provinces covered by the Cancer Screening Program in Urban China (CanSPUC) from 2015 to 2017. A total of 32 257 local residents aged ≥18 years old who could understand the investigation procedure were included in the study by using the cluster sampling method and convenient sampling method. All local residents were categorized into four groups, which contained 15 524 community residents, 8 016 cancer risk assessment/screening population, 2 289 cancer patients and 6 428 occupational population, respectively. The questionnaire collected personal information, the consciousness of the cancer early treatment and relevant factors. The Chi square test was used to compare the difference between the consciousness of the cancer early treatment and relevant factors among the four groups. The logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors related to the consciousness of the cancer early treatment. Results: With the assumption of being diagnosed as precancer or cancer, 89.97% of community residents, 91.84% of cancer risk assessment/screening population, 93.00% of cancer patients and 91.52% of occupational population would accept active treatments (P<0.001). If the immediate family members were diagnosed as precancer or cancer, people who would encourage their family members to receive early treatment in the four groups accounted for 91.96%, 91.94%, 92.44% and 91.55%, respectively (P<0.001). The company employees, annual household income with 40 000 yuan and more and other three groups had a relatively better consciousness of the cancer early treatment (P<0.05). Male, widowed, unemployed and from the central and western regions had a relatively worse consciousness of the cancer early treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion Residents in urban China participants had a good consciousness of the cancer early treatment. The marital status, occupation, annual household income and residential regions were major factors related to the consciousness of the cancer early treatment.